What is the difference between verification and identification in biometrics?

What is the difference between verification and identification in biometrics?

Verification and identification are two different processes in biometrics.

Verification refers to the process of confirming or verifying the identity of an individual by comparing their biometric data, such as fingerprints, iris patterns, or facial features, with a pre-registered template or reference data. In verification, the system only checks if the provided biometric data matches the stored template of a single individual. It is a one-to-one comparison process, where the system either accepts or rejects the individual's claim of identity.

On the other hand, identification is the process of determining the identity of an individual by comparing their biometric data with a database or a large set of reference templates. In identification, the system searches the entire database to find a match for the provided biometric data. It is a one-to-many comparison process, where the system tries to find a potential match among multiple individuals.

In summary, verification is a process of confirming the identity of an individual by comparing their biometric data with a single reference template, while identification involves determining the identity of an individual by searching a database or a set of reference templates for a potential match.